Newcomer Chinese female director Chloe Zhao returns with her second film using in real life actors. The result is a drama rich story filled with love and heartbreak that's a beautiful example of how life is like in the Badlands.
Although it can be painfully slow at times, The Rider is unlike any other film out there. It's new, creative and thought provoking. Using in real actors and her own experiences with meeting American cowboys, Zhao creates a beautiful film that's powerful from the first scene to the last. It's a fascinating story about the real world surrounding Dekota rodeos, and how dangerous and painful the sport can be.
Despite everyone being new actors in the film, the highlight of the Rider are the characters themselves. The actors all play themselves in the movie, and the movie is about real life cowboy Brady Jandrea after he gets in a severe riding accident that damages his brain. It's often chilling to see actors that play themselves in films, and this film does it surprisingly well. You can tell that everyone in the movie was extremely emotional, and that's a good thing, especially for all new actors who may have a future in the acting business.
The other film's highlight is Zhao's unique connection with the landscape that's also telling the story. Beautiful scenes of the Badlands are present throughout the film, and after watching it, you realize what it's like living in that part of the world in the Dakotas of the United States. In fact, that may be the best thing about the movie because as you watch it, you can almost feel like your actually there on the great plains of South Dakota. The scenery, and how Zhao captures it, is breathe taking.
As much as the film is about loss, it's also above love, and that's what makes it good.
Because it's so slow it might not be the best film of the year, but it's still a true modern day western that can be enjoyed by all horse loving people.
A-
No comments:
Post a Comment